Naturopaths may soon prescribe testosterone

Naturopaths may soon prescribe testosterone

The Senate gave final approval Thursday to a bill that would permit naturopathic doctors to prescribe testosterone to their patients.

HB108, sponsored by Rep. Douglas Aagard, R-Kaysville, was passed by the House last month and will now go to the governor.

The bill's Senate sponsor, Sen. Dennis Stowell, R-Parowan, told lawmakers that a naturopath must go through four years of college, four years of medical school and a yearlong internship before being allowed to practice in the state. Currently, doctors licensed in the state as naturopaths can prescribe estrogen for their female patients, but if a diagnosis is made requiring testosterone as a treatment, those patients — usually male — must go to a second doctor for a prescription. The restrictions on prescribing testosterone originally stemmed from concerns about athletes getting hold of the hormone for performance enhancement rather than for a diagnosed medical need.

Stowell got some harsh questioning during final debate on the bill from Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, who called it "another example of groups seeking licensure through legislation rather than education."

— David Servatius